Rum Therapy Archives | Page 10 of 11

June 3, 2011June 5, 2019

Railean Distillers – San Leon, Texas

We are always interested in finding out more about individuals who, like us, have hung up their suits and ties and are “making their obsession their profession” – especially a company that makes rum! That’s why we were very interested in finding out more about Railean Distillers in San Leon, Texas, when we were informed of them by Rum Therapy FB friend Paradise Cocktails.

Now, we haven’t been lucky enough to sample Railean Rum as it’s not available in our state yet, but are confident we will in the near future (maybe a road trip to tour the facility in San Leon for research purposes only, of course!) and I’m pretty sure we’re gonna love it!

photos courtesy of Railean Distillers

I contacted Kelly Railean, the founder of Railean Distillers and asked if I could interview her about the Railean Distillery and this is what we learned.

1. How did you come to start your own rum company? I spent over 10 years in the wine business; I sold wine for a large distributing company here in Texas. I have a Level 1 Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. My husband & I learned to sail in the late 1990’s and we purchased a Hunter 29.5 in 2000. When we caught the sailing bug we started collecting and drinking rum & learning all about pirates and the island lifestyle. One day while hanging out at The Buccaneer Bar in San Leon, Texas; we had this great idea to make our own rum. It made perfect sense, my husband (Matt) is a Chemical Engineer, and I had the industry experience and a great palate for wine & spirits.

2. Tell us about Railean Rum and how it differs from other rums? My products are handcrafted; we ferment a high grade sugarcane molasses & blue agave nectar, distill, age and bottle everything at our distillery – by hand. I am one of the few woman Master Distillers in the world – and yes, I really do distill and make all the rum & blue agave! We are family owned & operated, we use the best possible ingredients in our products, and we do not add any colors, flavors or other additives to any of our products. Our El Perico Blue Agave Spirit is the first and only Blue Agave Spirit to be made in Texas, our aged rums (Reserve XO and Small Cask Reserve) were the first aged spirits made in Texas, and our Railean Texas White rum is double distilled for the smoothest possible flavor.

3. What is your vision for the future of Railean Rum? An expansion of the distillery and increased distribution within the United States. Our products are fantastic, and I believe Railean could someday be the number one premium & domestic made rum and blue agave in the United States.

4. Where is Railean Rum rum available? We are available in Texas, California and Arkansas. We are distributed through Republic National Beverage in Texas, Western States Beverages in California, and Central Distributors in Arkansas. Depending on individual state laws, folks may be able to purchase our products online from www.specsonline.com.

5. Do you have rum factory tours? Tours & tastings are by appointment. Tours are typically Monday – Saturday and usually between the hours of 9AM and 2PM. During the hot summer months, tours are only offered in the AM since this is a working distillery and it is too hot in the afternoon to tour.

6. What else would you like us to know about Railean Rum? I make three different rums: Railean Texas White (retail $17.99), Railean Reserve XO Dark (retail $18.99), Railean Small Cask Reserve Aged (retail $29.99). I also just released the first & only 100% Blue Agave Spirit made in Texas for those of you who love your Tequila. The El Perico Blue Agave Spirit retails for $29.99. El Perico is Spanish for “the parakeet” which is the logo on all of the Railean labels. The parakeet or Monk Parrot is our mascot; there are hundreds (possibly more) of the little green guys all around the distillery, along the gulf & our marinas, and even at our home!

7. We have in common a love for sailing and tropical islands. Do you have a favorite island or place to sail? I love to sail the British Virgin Islands and we have sailed there many times. Most of my sailing though has been in Galveston Bay and around Galveston Island, TX. I have also sailed the Bahamas, St. Martin, St. Barts, Jamaica, and Cozumel. One of the most beautiful islands I have ever been to was Manihi, Tahiti; and that was the best scuba diving I have ever done in my life!

Kelly, thanks for the interview! Maybe we’ll run into you while sailing in the tropics sometime and share a little “Rum Therapy!” You bring the rum!

To find out more about Railean Distillers:
Website
Facebook

May 23, 2011November 9, 2020

Cruzan Strawberry Rum

Cruzan Rum recently announced the launch of their newest spirit, Cruzan Strawberry. It’s the 11th spirit in their family of flavored rums, and the recipe is crafted with a touch of ginger to give a unique spin to the strawberry taste. Here are some other details:

Tasting Notes and Aroma:
•       Taste – Ripe, wild strawberry coupled with subtle ginger root
•       Aroma – Fresh and juicy strawberry
•       Finish – Smooth with a light spiced ginger finish

After reading this press release from the folks at Cruzan Rum, we’d been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new Strawberry Rum. We’re recent fans of Cruzan Rums since our Cruzan Rum Factory Tour in St. Croix in February, and have enjoyed using the Cruzan flavored rums in many boat and beach drinks such as the Cruzan Confusion! Last week, we were lucky enough to find a bottle of the newly released Cruzan Strawberry Rum after visiting nearly every liquor store in our area.

After scoring the desired bottle, we asked our Facebook friends for recipe suggestions. In addition to some excellent suggestions from our readers, Cruzan Rum Representative, Justine, also kindly volunteered a few recipe ideas. We asked a couple of friends if they would assist us in some Strawberry Rum recipe testing this weekend, and with minimal (no) arm twisting, they obliged!

We picked two recipes to start with and began to assemble the necessary ingredients.

First on the agenda was a Strawberry Mojito using the recipe from Cruzan Rum. The recipe called for Cruzan Strawberry Rum, sugar, mint leaves, juice of half a lime, and club soda. We muddled the sugar, mint, lime juice and a splash of club soda.

We then added the rum (note the exceptional choice of shot glass!),

Then poured it over ice in a tall glass and garnished with lime and strawberry.

After a little sampling and tweaking, this is the version of the recipe that we liked best.

Strawberry Mojito
(makes two)

3 to 3.5 oz. Cruzan Strawberry Rum
2 tsp. sugar
4 mint leaves
Juice of half a lime
6 oz. plus a splash of club soda

Muddle the mint leaves, sugar, lime juice and a splash of club soda. Add the remaining club soda and stir. Pour into a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of lime and a strawberry.

It seems easy to overpower the taste of the strawberry with too much mint, so we initially tried 8 leaves then reduced the amount to 4 leaves per serving. The overwhelming consensus of all 4 taste testers was that the Cruzan Strawberry Mojito was crisp, light and very refreshing – an excellent summer beverage!

To make a Skinny Strawberry Mojito: Substitute 1/2 – 1 packet (.5 – 1 gram) Stevia for the sugar and/or Sprite Zero for the club soda. Tweak the amounts until the taste is just as you like it!

Stay tuned – more Cruzan Strawberry Rum Recipes (Part 2) in tommorow’s post!

photos: Pamela Ott

April 9, 2011May 29, 2011

The Rum Conundrum

rum conundrum [ruhm kəˈnəndrəm] – noun

1. A confusing and difficult problem or question regarding rum such as “It’s only Saturday – why is the rum gone?”

photo: Pamela Ott

April 2, 2011September 22, 2019

Seaplane Adventure

Years ago, sitting in the sun at Paradise Point at the top of the St. Thomas tram drinking my very first Bushwhacker (certainly not my last!) I saw a seaplane curve around Charlotte Amalie and gently splash down in the water. Quite cool, I thought – must put that one on the list.

Fast forward 10-15 years (wow, where does the time go?) and we find ourselves in St. Croix needing to get to St. Thomas. The two choices: 1. Ferry, cost $50.00, time 90 minutes 2. Seaplane, cost $80.00 (plus $1.00 per pound of luggage over 30 pds), time 20 minutes. A little more costly, but much shorter travel time and hey – it was on THE LIST.

We called and booked our flight on Seaborne Airlines for early the next morning and packed our suitcases. Unfortunately, both suitcases were over the 30 pd. limit (just the snorkeling equipment, I’m sure…), so there was an additional charge of about $10.00 each.

The next morning we headed down to the Seaplane Terminal in Christiansted. There were just a few clouds in the sky, but it looked like a beautiful morning. We were quite early, so we checked in and then headed over to Angry Nates for a warm cup o’ joe. The clouds began building and we had a quick 5 minute resulting in a beautiful rainbow over the harbor!

Sipping our coffee, we watched as our plane landed in the harbor and taxied over to the terminal. We headed over to the waiting area to board. It appeared that there were only 4 other people on our flight.

The pilots opened the doors and let the previous passengers out, then welcomed us on. All luggage was packed under the plane and we were allowed only to bring on our cameras (and a small handbag).

One of the pilots gave our safety briefing and then slid up in the cockpit and we were off!

Besides being a bit loud, I was amazed at how smoothly the plane zipped along the water during takeoff.

Once in the air, it was a beautiful sight looking back on St. Croix and the different hues in the water around it.

After about 10 minutes, we saw Water Island and St. Thomas in the distance.

As we approached St. Thomas it seemed we were going to fly right into the hillside around Charlotte Amalie – a little concerning, but then suddenly we took a sharp turn and a pretty steep dive right down into the harbor. We could see the cruise ships and mega yachts in port and the tram in the distance.

It was an odd feeling to set down in the water, but smooth once again. Nice ride, nice experience!

As I looked over towards the tram, I couldn’t help but wonder if someone was sitting up on Paradise Point drinking their first Bushwhacker and adding a seaplane ride to their list!

To see more posts on St. Croix and other islands, check out our Island Blog Directory

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

March 16, 2011November 7, 2020

Homemade Irish Cream

Irish Cream’s are delectable cream liqueurs commonly made from whiskey. I love the smooth creamy taste and enjoy it on the rocks as well as in drinks such as Bushwhacker’s. I recently ran across a recipe for a Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur using rum instead of whiskey and figured we’d just have to mix up a batch and compare rum to whiskey! If you’ve already tried this, let us know what you think! Sláinte!! (To your health in Irish)

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

Print Recipe

Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur

Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur using rum instead of whiskey

Course: Drinks

Ingredients

1 3/4 c. Gold Rum
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (14 oz)
1 c. Whipping Cream
4 Eggs
2 Tbs. Chocolate Syrup
2 tsp. Instant Coffee
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp. Almond Extract

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Store tightly covered in refrigerator for up to 1 month. Stir before serving.

Notes

Here’s a recipe for a shooter that might work quite well with the Homemade Rum Irish Cream Liqueur:

Irish Frost:
To one shot Irish Cream liqueur, add a splash of cream of coconut and a splash of half and half. Shake and serve in a chilled shot glass.

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

February 26, 2011May 29, 2019

Coconuts on the Beach, St. Croix

When visiting a new tropical place, we always try to scope out the funky beach bars and the locals hangouts. Before visiting St. Croix, we asked the folks at St. Croix Lime for recommendations. They obliged and also reminded us to check the calendar on their website for live music and updates.

Coconut’s on the Beach was a bar we saw mentioned on the website and passed by it while driving through Frederiksted and thought we’d stop for some liquid refreshment.

There was a cloud looming overhead and no cruise ships in port that day so Coconuts was quiet, but looked like a great place to sit back and relax.

We ordered a few Corona’s, sat down and took it all in. From Coconut’s you can see the cruise ship pier at Fredriksted, you can catch a glimpse of the lovely Sandy Point Beach or you can stare out at the beach right under the bar.

Would have loved to have been there to enjoy the nightlife and some live music! By the time we left, a few more tables had filled up and as we walked through the Wall of Lost Soles, we figured we’d be back someday…

For another Corona, or perhaps a Cruzan Confusion!!

To find out more, visit Coconuts website here:
Coconuts on the Beach

More posts on St. Croix that you might be interested in:

Rum Therapy On St. Croix

Turtle Beach, Buck Island, St. Croix

Sandy Point, St. Croix

Cruzan Rum Factory Tour

Snorkeling at Buck Island

Mt. Pellier Domino Club, St. Croix

copyright©Rum Therapy Beaches, Bars & More, Tropical Travel Guide, 2013
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

January 26, 2011May 29, 2011

The Equator Shooter

I haven’t been able to concentrate very well lately – my mind keeps wandering to an island in the sun. In fact, in just a few days my toes will be happily wiggling in some warm sand. As we head in the direction of the equator we will celebrate the beginning of a tropical holiday with one (or possible two!) of these yummy concoctions. Maybe you would like one too?

The Equator Shooter

1/2 oz peach schnapps
1/2 oz white rum
Grenadine syrup

Layer ingredients in the exact order. Grenadine should sit on top for a little bit before sliding down the inside of the shot glass.

photo: Pamela Ott

December 19, 2010November 9, 2020

Chocolate Rum Balls

Rum Balls are a pretty popular holiday treat. Thanks to our niece, Christie, for sharing her recipe for Chocolate Rum Balls – yummmm… To make Coconut Chocolate Rum Balls, substitute Coconut Rum for the dark rum.

Chocolate Rum Balls

½ cup (1 stick) of butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon dark rum
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
Powdered sugar

Combine butter, granulated sugar and egg yolk in large bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add rum and vanilla; mix well. Add flour and cocoa; stir until well blended. Stir in nuts. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 15-20 minutes or until firm. Transfer to wire racks; cool 5 minutes. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar. Cool completely on wire racks.

December 13, 2010September 21, 2019

Smallest Bar in Key West

Duval Street in Key West is on the to do list for most Key West vacationers. The street is lined with bars, live music, restaurants and shops and is a great place to pull up a bar seat and do some people watching. One popular activity for some visitors is the Duval Crawl, or bar-hopping on Duval Street. Upon inquiry, we were told that this means trying to visit as many Key West bars in one night as you can handle!

We were in Key West for several nights, so we took our time and sampled some of the best known bars while keeping our eyes open for the smaller, lesser known bars.

One very small, but not necessarily lesser known bar that we enjoyed was the Smallest Bar in Key West. Yes, that’s the name and for good reason. The bar is – at the most – 8 feet wide, has about 4 barstools, the bar and the bartender. Don’t come here looking for much more than a frosty beer, but do stop by if you want to enjoy some conversation with some instant friends! Everyone in the bar beckoned passer-bys to come in and instantly started up a conversation with whomever ventured in. We only hung around for about 20 minutes, but really enjoyed our time at the Smallest Bar in Key West.

Still room for a few more! It was chilly that evening….

Some of our new Smallest Bar in Key West friends!

Visit their website to find out more: Smallest Bar in Key West

Other posts on key West that you might be interested in:

Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, Key West

copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
All information is correct to our knowledge at the time of writing, but be sure to verify current information before your visit.

November 16, 2010November 8, 2020